Fractionating theory of mind: A meta-analysis of functional brain imaging studies

• Published in: Neuroscience and biobehavioral reviews Vol. 42; pp. 9 - 34
• Main Authors: Schurz, Matthias, Radua, Joaquim, Aichhorn, Markus, Richlan, Fabio, Perner, Josef
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Kidlington Elsevier 01.05.2014
• Subjects: Behavioral psychophysiology; Biological and medical sciences; Brain - physiology; Functional Neuroimaging; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Humans; Neural Pathways - physiology; Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry; Psychology. Psychophysiology; Theory of Mind - physiology; Neuroimaging; Temporal lobe; Temporo-parietal junction; Central nervous system; Functional analysis; Review; Frontal cortex; Prefrontal cortex; Theory of mind; Inferior frontal gyrus; Anterior temporal lobe; Encephalon; Metaanalysis; Meta-analysis; Task groups; Medial prefrontal cortex; Mentalizing; Parietal cortex; Mentalization; Precuneus; Junction; Parietal lobe; Functional imaging
• ISSN: 0149-7634; 1873-7528; 1873-7528
• DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2014.01.009

We meta-analyzed imaging studies on theory of mind and formed individual task groups based on stimuli and instructions. Overlap in brain activation between all task groups was found in the mPFC and in the bilateral posterior TPJ. This supports the idea of a core network for theory of mind that is activated whenever we are reasoning about mental states, irrespective of the task- and stimulus-formats (Mar, 2011). In addition, we found a number of task-related activation differences surrounding this core-network. ROI based analyses show that areas in the TPJ, the mPFC, the precuneus, the temporal lobes and the inferior frontal gyri have distinct profiles of task-related activation. Functional accounts of these areas are reviewed and discussed with respect to our findings.